Gov. Otter Says “No Cuts To Education.”

BOISE, Idaho (AP) - Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter recommends cutting more than $35 million in spending from state agencies to help balance Idaho's budget next year, with a bulk of the cuts falling to adult Medicaid services. 

The Republican governor gave his State of the State speech yesterday to open the 2011 Legislature.  Otter refrained from recommending further cuts to public schools, which took a $128 million hit this year, and ruled out tax increases to boost Idaho revenue in his recommended budget for the next fiscal year. While lawmakers were expected to address a $340 million shortfall this session while budgeting for next year, Otter's budget chief reported that bigger-than-expected state revenue helped shrink the deficit. Division of Financial Management administrator Wayne Hammon says the shortfall is still about $50 million.